Trekking at Tellaro and Montemarcello

In the easternmost part of Liguria, at the end of the Italian Riviera, the Gulf of La Spezia is closed by a sort of peninsula where there are some small, beautiful towns like Lerici, Tellaro and Montemarcello. (We visited this stretch of coast also by kayak, from Lerici to Tuscany, have a look).
On this peninsula between the Gulf of La Spezia and river Magra there are some very interesting paths with views over the Ligurian Sea and Tuscany.

There are several different starting points for these trekking itineraries. In high season, it's better to reach them by public transport, using buses and ferries from La Spezia. There are no trains here, so hiking may become a necessity sometimes, when you miss the bus :) In the other seasons, you can easily drive and park along the road the road between Tellaro and Montemarcello.
There are different paths linking Lerici, Tellaro and Montemarcello, while some deviations bring to the sea.

In a long, full day trekking, you can hike along most of the peninsula. Otherwise, you can have several shorter walks. If you park along the road from Tellaro to Montemarcello, where the path crosses the road, you can walk to Montemarcello on the eastern side of the peninsula, keeping high on the sea. You walk through some thick woods, but sometimes you get great views of the Apuane Alps and north Tuscany.

Some of the best views over Tuscany are enjoyable from the botanic garden of Montemarcello, 360 metres above sea level. Instead, the small town of Montemarcello offers some great views of the Gulf of La Spezia and it's a quiet a medieval village with picturesque houses.

From here, one option is to hike down to the beach of Punta Corvo (along a path that becomes a steep stairway). The beach of Punta Corvo is rather crowded in the summer weekends, but otherwise it is wild, secluded and amazing.

Another trekking itinerary towards the sea is the one that goes from Montemarcello to the rocky coast of Punta Bianca (White Cape).
Instead, to hike back to Tellaro there are several options, but the recommendation is to follow the coast of the Gulf of La Spezia, sometimes leaning to admire the cliffs and the sea below.

As usual, the views over the Gulf of La Spezia, Portovenere and the three islands (Palmaria, Tino and tiny Tinetto) are wonderful, especially at sunset.
You can read here about an amazing trekking to Portovenere and here about a kayaking tour of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto.

The hiking itinerary continues by walking down to Tellaro (from where you will probably have to walk back to the main road for the car). Tellaro is a beautiful sea village that has nothing to envy to Cinque Terre: a peaceful place, with the houses perched on the sea (you might even spot a fishing wire dropping into the water from a window...).

For those who want to split their hike into two or more days in Lerici click here to find the best offers for accomodation.

From Tellaro you may also follow the path to Lerici, among olive trees, small woods and beautiful houses, with sensation views over the Gulf of La Spezia, especially in the clear winter days.

All in all, the paths between Tellaro, Montemarcello and Punta Corvo offer opportunities for some beautiful trekking days: not many itineraries, but all deserving to be explored.
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